January 13
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“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, KJV)

One of my favorite game shows is “The Price is Right” (TPIR).

Like most game shows on television, prizes are awarded the contestants when they succeed at various tasks.  Contestants on TPIR are awarded vacations in exotic places, cash, and even automobiles for their prowess.  It is the automobiles that often generate the most excitement, despite the fact that these often aren’t expensive cars; and most are vehicles that will depreciate to almost nothing in a few years.  Judging from the unbridled enthusiasm of some winners, you would think something greater has been acquired.

On the other hand, God offers everyone something much better than a prize: He offers a gift.

Prizes must be won, while gifts are freely given.  Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord is never something for which we must compete; and it is a gift that never loses its value.  How about a little unbridled enthusiasm for that?  Have a great day!  – Luther

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January 12
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“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, KJV)
Strange as it seems, some people (no matter how tired, weary, harried, or over-committed) will just not take a break.

Such folks rise early; retire late; work every weekend; and lose vacation time routinely.  For such persons, work is not a means — but an end; a tyrannical. . . dead. . . end.  To such persons, Jesus offers a simple, effective, alternative: “Come unto me. . . and I will give you rest.”

Come to Him through worship.  Come to Him through prayer.  Come to Him through the fellowship of His people.  Come to Him through communion with the Holy Spirit.  Come to Him through your meditation on the scriptures — and He will give you rest.  – Luther

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January 10
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“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11, NIV)

According to the liturgical calendar, we are in the season known as Epiphany.  The significance of Epiphany is the revelation or the manifestation of the Jewish messiah, Jesus, to the gentiles.  Most of us recognize this event as the time when the infant Jesus was visited by the three wise men — non-Jews from a place East of the holy land — who presented Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as tokens of His lordship.

As the disciples of Jesus, we need to guard against keeping Jesus — the Savior of the world — for ourselves only.  It was never God’s intention in sending His only begotten Son into this world that Jesus should be only for one group of people, or for one kind of people.  The scripture tells us: “God so loved the world. . . ”

We do well to ponder the great love of God in not only coming through the house and lineage of David, but in also coming to us: Gentiles, exiles, foreigners, and strangers.  – Luther

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